By Don Eskins (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Ten teams took to the courts on Wednesday at this year’s Central Ozark Conference Tournament, held at the Cooper Tennis Complex, in search of a 2020 COC tournament title.
The Nixa Lady Eagles were the team that came out on top.
The Eagles, who placed in three of four tournament flights, slipped past the runner-up Republic Tigers by just 2.5 points, 10-12.5, to claim this year’s COC tournament title. Ozark High’s Lady Tigers finished third with 14.5 points.
The Eagles were led by Anna Martens who took first in No. 2 singles play. Also registering strong performances were the doubles teams of Mallory Yeary and Jenelle Schmidly who placed second in No. 2 doubles competition and Megan Brassard and Olivia Engleman who finished third in No. 1 doubles play.
“We’re pretty deep this year and we felt that we could place at least fourth or fifth in each flight today,” said Eagle coach Brock Blansit. “Anna winning No. 2 singles play was really big for us. She fell down 0-3 in the finals and bounced back to grab the win.”
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“We also got a great effort from Arabella Cosgrove. After losing her opening match she fought back through five more matches to finish fourth in No. 1 singles play. That was really huge for us because every point counts. Efforts like that, from Arabella, Anna and all of the other kids on our team, have made their coaches very proud.”
Melissa Peralta, of Ozark, defeated Republic’s Elsie Crawford 8-4 to capture the tournament’s No. 1 singles championship.
“Melissa is enjoying the opportunity to play high school tennis here in Ozark. The former school she attended in Mexico didn’t have one. She’s had a lot of success this year and earned the respect of all the coaches,” said Tiger coach Mark McBain. “She’s definitely one of the top singles players in the area and we’re all looking forward to seeing how well she performs at Friday’s district tournament.”
Also grabbing flight titles at the COC was the No. 1 doubles team of Astrid Cardenas and Emma Watts of Joplin who defeated Republic’s Sedalia Schumaker and Morgan Lewis 8-0 and the Number 2 doubles team of Abigail McCord and Wrigley Cook of Republic who downed Nixa’s Mallory Yeary and Jenelle Schmidly 8-5.
Tournament champion Nixa, as with all other members of their conference, are now making plans for upcoming district tournament play.
“We’ve have had a great year in 2020,” said coach Blansit. “Our kids did well at the Republic tournament, won our tournament at Nixa, beat Republic and Ozark in tough matches to win the regular season COC title for only the second time in school history and now this, a COC tournament title.”
“We know our district tournament is loaded with talent this year and to win there will be tough,” said the Lady Eagle coach. “But our kids are pumped, confident and ready to play. And after the kind of year they’ve had, whatever takes place at district, will just be icing on the cake.”
COC Top Three Scores
1. Nixa – 10
2. Republic – 12.5
3. Ozark – 14.5
No. 1 Singles
1. Melissa Peralta (Ozark) def 2. Elsie Crawford (Republic) 8-4
3. Alice Go (Willard) def. 4. Arabela Cosgrove (Nixa) 6-1
No. 2 Singles
1. Anna Martens (Nixa) def 2. Hannah Metcalf (Ozark) 8-4
3. Kirsalyn Hood (Webb City) def 4. Kianna Yates (Carthage) 6-2
No. 1 Doubles
1. Astrid Cardenas/Emma Watts (Joplin) def Sedalia Schumaker/Morgan Lewis (Republic) 8-0
3. Megan Brassard/Olivia Engleman (Nixa) def Madison Tourville/Paige Chrastina(Ozark) 6-3
No. 2 Doubles
1. Abigail McCord/Wrigley Cook (Republic) def 2. Mallory Yeary/Jenelle Schmidly (Nixa) 8-5
3. Jenson Vowels/Lauren Laird (Joplin) def 4. Macy Scott/Madelyn Faria Branson 8-3
The top three players in each flight of competition gained medalist honors.
